Croatia is among the European countries that offer many opportunities to international students. Its higher education institutions focus on innovation, research, and diverse fields of study. Beyond academics, you can also gain meaningful experiences as you explore Croatian culture and enjoy the country’s beautiful landscapes.
It is no secret that people here enjoy a high quality of life, relatively affordable costs, and excellent cuisine. Croatia has also been part of the Schengen area since January 1, 2023. With the appropriate Croatian Schengen visa, long-stay visa, or residence permit, you may be able to travel to other Schengen states, subject to the conditions of your visa or permit and the 90/180-day Schengen rules.
So, get your pen and notepad ready and take note of how to apply for a student visa or temporary stay for studies in Croatia.
Steps on Applying for a Croatian Student Visa
Here are the steps to apply for a Croatian visa or temporary stay for studies:
Step 1. Confirm Requirements at a Croatian Mission in Your Country
Before starting your application, confirm which route applies to you. Croatia now issues Schengen visas, including airport-transit visas (type A) and short-stay visas (type C), as well as national long-stay visas (type D). For studies lasting more than 90 days, most third-country students need temporary stay for the purpose of university studies. If you require a visa to enter Croatia and your temporary stay has already been granted, you may also need a long-stay visa (D) to enter Croatia and complete residence formalities.
You can contact the Croatian mission in your country to confirm the exact requirements. Visit this link and choose your country from the drop-down list. There, you will find the phone number, email address, and website of the selected mission. You will also see the working hours of the embassy and office hours for consular services. If a mission accepts applications by appointment only, you should follow the appointment instructions listed there.
If there is no Croatian embassy or consulate in your country, check whether a VFS Global Visa Application Center accepts Croatian visa applications in your country. You can check the list here. If there is no Croatian embassy, consulate, or visa center in your country, the visa application may be submitted at the nearest Croatian embassy or consulate in another country.
Because temporary-stay applications and visa applications are not always handled in the same way, confirm with the Croatian mission whether you should first apply for temporary stay, a visa, or both.
Step 2. Complete the Application Form and Prepare Supporting Documents
After confirming which documents you need to submit, start working on the correct application form. If you need a Croatian Schengen visa, you can complete the online visa application form. After filling it out online, print it, sign it, and submit it with the required documents to the competent Croatian embassy, consulate, or visa center.
If you are applying for temporary stay for the purpose of university studies, use the temporary-stay application process required by the Ministry of the Interior or the Croatian diplomatic mission handling your case. A Schengen visa application may be submitted no more than six months before the start of the intended trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before the trip. A long-stay visa (D) application is submitted before entering Croatia and may be submitted no earlier than three months before, and no later than three months after, the beginning of the validity of the granted temporary stay or stay and work permit.
Make sure that all information is true and accurate, and prepare your supporting documents early. The Croatian authorities may ask for additional documents or an interview during processing.
Step 3. Submit your Application Documents in Person
You will usually need to submit your application documents in person before entering Croatia. Schengen visa and long-stay visa applications are submitted at the competent Croatian embassy or consulate, or at a VFS Global Visa Application Center where available.
Temporary-stay applications are generally submitted at a Croatian diplomatic mission or consular office before entry. Third-country nationals who do not need a visa to enter Croatia may also apply at the competent police administration or police station in Croatia. Students who require a visa are also listed among the categories that may apply at a police administration or police station if they are already legally in Croatia for the purpose of studying at a higher education institution. Always confirm your route with the Croatian mission or the competent police administration before making travel plans.
You may need to pay a visa fee, a residence fee, or a VFS service fee, depending on your application type and whether you qualify for an exemption. Make sure to check the current fee rules before submitting your application.
Step 4. Wait for the Visa Approval
After submitting your application, keep your contact information active in case the embassy, consulate, visa center, or Croatian authorities request additional information. As a general rule, a Schengen visa decision is made within 15 calendar days from the date the application is lodged. In individual cases, this period may be extended up to 45 days if a more detailed examination or additional documents are required.
If your temporary stay is approved while you are outside Croatia, you will be instructed on the next steps. If you need a long-stay visa (D), it is issued after temporary stay or a stay and work permit has been granted. A Croatian long-stay visa (D) can be issued for one or multiple entries, with a validity period of up to six months and an approved duration of stay of up to 30 days.
While waiting for approval, you can also organize the requirements for temporary stay. You need temporary stay if you intend to remain in Croatia for more than 90 days for university studies.
General requirements for temporary stay for university studies include:
- Proof of the purpose of your temporary stay, such as proof of enrollment or admission from your Croatian higher education institution
- A valid travel document and a copy of the travel document
- A recent color photograph
- Proof of health insurance
- Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and cover return travel costs
- For a first temporary-stay application, proof that you have not been finally convicted of a criminal offense in your home country or in a country where you stayed for more than one year immediately before arriving in Croatia, unless an exemption applies
- If you are a minor, parental authorization or an equivalent document for the planned stay
Documents may need to be submitted as originals or certified copies, with certified Croatian translations and legalization or apostille where required.
Step 5. Fly to Croatia and Register for a Temporary Resident Permit
Once you receive the necessary approval and visa, if required, you can travel to Croatia. After entering Croatia, report your temporary residence address to the competent police administration or police station no later than three days after entry. If you were issued a long-stay visa (D), you must contact the competent police department or police station within 30 days from the beginning of the validity of the visa to register your place of residence and create a biometric residence permit.
If your temporary stay is approved, the current fee for temporary stay submitted at a police administration or police station is 46.45 EUR. The fee for producing a biometric residence permit is 31.85 EUR for the regular procedure or 59.73 EUR for the accelerated procedure. An additional administrative fee of 9.29 EUR is charged for issuing the biometric residence permit.
A temporary stay permit for university studies is usually granted for one year, or for the duration of the studies if the study period is shorter. Students covered by certain EU or multilateral mobility programs, or by an agreement between higher education institutions, may receive temporary stay for up to two years or for the duration of the studies if shorter.
Documents Needed for Croatian Student Visa Applications
When applying for a Croatian visa or temporary stay for studies, prepare the following documents, depending on the route confirmed by the Croatian mission or police administration:
Application Form
You can download the appropriate visa form or complete the online visa application form of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia. If you complete the visa form online, print and sign it before submitting it with your supporting documents. For temporary stay, use the application form and process required by the Ministry of the Interior or the Croatian diplomatic mission handling your case.
Passport or Travel Document
You will need a valid passport or travel document. For a Schengen short-stay visa (C), your travel document must contain at least two blank pages, have been issued within the previous 10 years, and be valid for at least three months after the date you intend to leave the Schengen area. For a long-stay visa (D), your travel document must contain at least two blank pages, have been issued within the previous 10 years, and be valid for at least three months longer than the period of validity of the granted temporary stay or stay and work permit.
Other Required Documents
You may need to present documents that prove your:
- Purpose of stay in Croatia, such as proof of enrollment or an admission letter from a Croatian higher education institution
- Paid visa fee, residence fee, or exemption from the fee, where applicable
- Travel medical insurance for visa purposes, with coverage of at least 30,000 EUR and validity for the Schengen area where required
- Health insurance for temporary-stay purposes
- Accommodation or residence address in Croatia, where required
- Sufficient means of subsistence and return travel costs
- Means of travel and intention to leave the Schengen area or return to your home country, where required for visa purposes
- No final criminal conviction record for a first temporary-stay application, unless an exemption applies
Besides these, you should also prepare a recent identity photograph and a photocopy of your passport or travel document. The embassy, consulate, visa center, or police administration may request additional documents depending on your nationality and circumstances.
FAQs: Student Visa Applications for Croatia
How Much Money Do You Need for a Croatian Student Visa?
Visa fees depend on the application type. The standard airport-transit visa (A) and short-stay visa (C) fee is 90 EUR, while the long-stay visa (D) fee is 93 EUR. However, students may qualify for fee exemptions. Pupils, students, postgraduate students, and accompanying teachers are listed among the categories exempt from airport-transit and short-stay visa fees when coming to attend school, study, or professional training. Third-country nationals granted temporary stay for university studies are also listed among the categories exempt from long-stay visa (D) fees. If you apply through VFS Global, a separate VFS service fee may still apply.
If you submit a temporary-stay application at a police administration or police station, the current administrative fee is 46.45 EUR for the approval of temporary stay, plus 31.85 EUR for the production of a biometric residence permit through the regular procedure and 9.29 EUR for issuance of the biometric permit. The accelerated biometric permit production fee is 59.73 EUR.
You must also show sufficient funds. For short-stay entry into Croatia, the required means of subsistence are generally 70 EUR per day of the intended stay, or 30 EUR per day if you have a notarized letter of guarantee, proof of a paid travel package, or a similar qualifying document. For temporary stay for university studies, official guidance requires proof of sufficient resources for subsistence and return travel costs. Because the exact proof can vary by case, confirm the required bank statements, scholarship documents, or sponsor documents with the Croatian mission or competent police administration.
We hope this article on how to get a student visa or temporary stay for studies in Croatia was informative and insightful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs in Europe for International Students!
